Just can't get anything done unless you do it yourself. Councils and red tape, blah, blah, blah...endless e-mails and texts and still no further along in discovering the truth about SCC's plans for the TYM site.
Am setting up an "Action Group" which does not involve LBRuT, in the hope that we may make some progress!
Anyone interested in joining, please leave a comment and I will let you know the location ...nod, nod, wink, wink...
LOL
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Meeting with ETRuT and setting up "Friends of Hamlands"
Attended a quarterly Trustees meeting last night and brought up Hamlands under AOB. my fellow trustees were happy for me to write a letter to SCC to ask what is going on, on behalf of the Trust.
I have also been corresponding with Vicky of the Rich and Twick Friends of the Earth (RTFoE). Vicky is contacting a journalist who may wish to speak to me about this. She also pointed out that there are no groups set up specifically with an interest in Hamlands, a sort of "Friends of Hamlands". I think that this is quite surprising and a real shame.
I met with Jason Debney of Thames Landscape Strategy at Hamlands yesterday. We walked over to the TYM site (being careful to stay on the Richmond side so as not to trespass). The SCC have merely put a sign up to warn passersby not to trespass, but there is no barrier apart from a section of orange plastic webbing which has already collapsed flat to the ground. People, dogs or kids could easily wander innocently across this and transport Japanese Knotweed back to Hamlands via their feet. There is nothing to prevent or warn against this - only the notice to warn against trespass.
Jason had been on holiday whilst the dirt hit the fan, so to speak. He was unaware of the work and was quite shocked to see it. Of course, the TLS have a large area to cover, so I think that the idea of the Friends Group, to work with TLS and with advice from other expert organisations, really deserves some thought.
I feel that I currently have so many projects that I am involved with that I could not spare the time to organise such a group, but maybe I can rlly a few willing people together and we could make a start. Clearly, without it, Hamlands is vulnerable and will remain a forgotten "out of sight, out of mind" area.
I have also been corresponding with Vicky of the Rich and Twick Friends of the Earth (RTFoE). Vicky is contacting a journalist who may wish to speak to me about this. She also pointed out that there are no groups set up specifically with an interest in Hamlands, a sort of "Friends of Hamlands". I think that this is quite surprising and a real shame.
I met with Jason Debney of Thames Landscape Strategy at Hamlands yesterday. We walked over to the TYM site (being careful to stay on the Richmond side so as not to trespass). The SCC have merely put a sign up to warn passersby not to trespass, but there is no barrier apart from a section of orange plastic webbing which has already collapsed flat to the ground. People, dogs or kids could easily wander innocently across this and transport Japanese Knotweed back to Hamlands via their feet. There is nothing to prevent or warn against this - only the notice to warn against trespass.
Jason had been on holiday whilst the dirt hit the fan, so to speak. He was unaware of the work and was quite shocked to see it. Of course, the TLS have a large area to cover, so I think that the idea of the Friends Group, to work with TLS and with advice from other expert organisations, really deserves some thought.
I feel that I currently have so many projects that I am involved with that I could not spare the time to organise such a group, but maybe I can rlly a few willing people together and we could make a start. Clearly, without it, Hamlands is vulnerable and will remain a forgotten "out of sight, out of mind" area.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
How can this happen in the middle of Richmond upon Thames?
I suppose that SCC thought that the area opposite the lagoon at TYM was hidden and largely "out of site, out of mind" despite being in the middle of one of the most historic areas in the UK - not to say in the world (Kim Wilkie TLS report recommends it as a World Heritage Site). With callous disregard for the unique wildlife and heritage of the area, SCC's arboriculturalist sent in the bulldozers one fine day in september, and razed the woods to the ground. No sensitive management methods here - and why is that, one may ask ? Is it because the SCC have plans to concrete it over ? They are not saying - of course. The SCC Arboricultual Officer states that the land has been cleared to "enable use of this neglected and potentially valuable space"..which sounds very much to me like building work is involved.
I have only recently started my exploration of Ham, my son having started at Grey Court school in september. I had always known about Petersham meadow, Ham House and the Thames Path, but had never ventured on to Ham Lands. It came as a lovely surprise to discover an oasis of calm, an uncrowded and peaceful venue for my morning dog walk after dropping my son to school. I was captivated by the county-side feel of the place and soon started to research the origins of the Hamlands.
After the first week or so of walking, I was surprised to observe that some large trees had been felled and that there were diggers and large machines parked in a clearing that had been fenced off with orange plastic webbing. I assumed that this was to enable some pruning or other management works and was mildly interested. I came home and read the Kim Wilkie report online and came to the conclusion that the work must have something to do with clearing the Japanese Knotweed.
A day or so later I was talking to my dog-walking friend, and she announced that she had heard rumours that the area was in fact being cleared to make way for a skate park! Naturally, we were both very concerned and I decided to contact SCC to find out exactly what they were doing.
The reply from SCC's Arboricultural Officer did nothing to put my mind at rest - quite the opposite in fact. He stated that the trees had been removed to "enable use of this neglected and potentially valuable space" i.e HUMAN usage - obviously wildlife is not considered as having any claim to using the site!
I am amazed that this could have taken place without any knowledge of LBRuT, TLS or other relevant organisation.
SCC have come like a thief in the night. They have not considered the species that occupy this site - some of which are rare such as Bee Orchids.
I have alerted as many organisations and individuals as I can think of.
Watch this space.
I have only recently started my exploration of Ham, my son having started at Grey Court school in september. I had always known about Petersham meadow, Ham House and the Thames Path, but had never ventured on to Ham Lands. It came as a lovely surprise to discover an oasis of calm, an uncrowded and peaceful venue for my morning dog walk after dropping my son to school. I was captivated by the county-side feel of the place and soon started to research the origins of the Hamlands.
After the first week or so of walking, I was surprised to observe that some large trees had been felled and that there were diggers and large machines parked in a clearing that had been fenced off with orange plastic webbing. I assumed that this was to enable some pruning or other management works and was mildly interested. I came home and read the Kim Wilkie report online and came to the conclusion that the work must have something to do with clearing the Japanese Knotweed.
A day or so later I was talking to my dog-walking friend, and she announced that she had heard rumours that the area was in fact being cleared to make way for a skate park! Naturally, we were both very concerned and I decided to contact SCC to find out exactly what they were doing.
The reply from SCC's Arboricultural Officer did nothing to put my mind at rest - quite the opposite in fact. He stated that the trees had been removed to "enable use of this neglected and potentially valuable space" i.e HUMAN usage - obviously wildlife is not considered as having any claim to using the site!
I am amazed that this could have taken place without any knowledge of LBRuT, TLS or other relevant organisation.
SCC have come like a thief in the night. They have not considered the species that occupy this site - some of which are rare such as Bee Orchids.
I have alerted as many organisations and individuals as I can think of.
Watch this space.
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